Diets filled with energy drinks, fast food and sugar negatively affect learning and development
The best kinds of food for optimal employee performance are all-natural ones, according to Conor Reynolds, director at Snackwize.
“Think healthy snacks like fresh fruits, nuts & seeds, trail mixes, vegetables and protein bars that will keep your glucose at an optimum level,” Reynolds told HRD.
“Eating quality protein and fats within each meal will also help stabilise your blood glucose levels and keep you feeling good and energetic throughout the day.
“Having too much sugar gives you a sudden spike of energy but will ultimately leave you feeling frazzled, lethargic, and unmotivated.”
Reynolds added that by regularly refuelling with healthy snacks and taking sporadic breaks away from the desk, employees can maintain a good level of energy throughout their working day.
“Employers should also set an example of what healthy brain food looks like,” he said.
For example, instead of bringing donuts or pizza to a staff meeting, consider a range of healthy snacks.
“Food has a direct impact on our cognitive performance, which is why a poor decision at lunch can derail an entire afternoon,” he said.
So what kinds of food should employees be avoiding?
“Diets filled with energy drinks, fast food and sugar negatively affect your mood, learning and memory, and consistently eating these foods can lead to long-term major health problems,” said Reynolds.
“One of the best ways to keep yourself on track with healthy eating is to make the decision about you’re going to eat before you actually get hungry.
“Prepare your lunch the night before and take it to work with you.”
Reynolds also advises that if you’re going out to lunch, pick where you’re going to eat in the morning, not when you’re absolutely starving at 12:30PM.
That’s important because studies show that people are a lot better at resisting salt, calories, and fat when we aren’t hungry.
“Regularly grazing throughout the day is another great way to keep yourself on track,” he said.
“Smaller and more frequent meals maintain your glucose at a more consistent level, and prevent spikes and drops in blood sugar which are bad for both your brain and productivity.”
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